Newest project island tank

[Rhyno8]

So I Just picked up this 10x3x3 island tank all 15mm glass planning on cleaning it down fully and building up from scratch! Couple questions in an all glass tank are the weirs acrylic or glass? going to have to get one made. Where have others with centre weir ran there pump return?

 

[duanes]

Where the water exits to the sump might depend on the type fish.
If riverinespecies, you may want the exits on one end, with water entering from the opposite end.
If lake species, mid tank would work.
Either way, if it were me, I'd drill, instead of adding weirs in the tank, thick glass is very easy to drill, much simper than thin.

 

[Ulu]

Well you have room for a huge sump . . . or three!

That's a very interesting stand. The guy who designed it put lots of feet at each end.

Those legs in the middle are taking a lot more load and will press 3x harder** on the floor. But it appears to have 32 leveling feet so it's going to be an interesting day setting it up.

If you want to glue anything to a glass tank with silicone it's best to use glass. You can glue plastic to silicone, But It's tricky to do and the bond isn't as good.

Also silicones and Plastics very a lot.

I used to be an engineer in the window industry, and we tested a lot of different silicones and glass adhesive against many types of rubber and plastic.

What we found was that eventually, over years of accelerated aging tests, most silicones and most plastics do not get along.

But without testing it is difficult to tell, so you have to do some investigation.

** this would depend on the weight of the glass which I do not know.

 

[Rhyno8]

Where the water exits to the sump might depend on the type fish.
If riverinespecies, you may want the exits on one end, with water entering from the opposite end.
If lake species, mid tank would work.
Either way, if it were me, I'd drill, instead of adding weirs in the tank, thick glass is very easy to drill, much simper than thin.

I’m still undecided what ill stock with I’m thinking South American soft water species this setup will be run off tank water. I’ve drilled before just nervous about drilling the big girl. I do think I’ll follow your side sump set up having it off to the side there’s so much bracing on this stand the sump can only be 16”wide. My plan maybe to have the sump next to the glass sliding door with the door side blacked out and have the top of the sump filled with pothos and Chinese evergreen.

 

[Rhyno8]

Well you have room for a huge sump . . . or three!

That's a very interesting stand. The guy who designed it put lots of feet at each end.

Those legs in the middle are taking a lot more load and will press 3x harder** on the floor. But it appears to have 32 leveling feet so it's going to be an interesting day setting it up.

If you want to glue anything to a glass tank with silicone it's best to use glass. You can glue plastic to silicone, But It's tricky to do and the bond isn't as good.

Also silicones and Plastics very a lot.

I used to be an engineer in the window industry, and we tested a lot of different silicones and glass adhesive against many types of rubber and plastic.

What we found was that eventually, over years of accelerated aging tests, most silicones and most plastics do not get along.

But without testing it is difficult to tell, so you have to do some investigation.

** this would depend on the weight of the glass which I do not know.

Thank you for the informative reply, think I’ll go glass if I go the weir route I’m wondering how much real estate a centre weir might take up. Who ever designed the stand must have had unlimited budget crazy amount of bracing there’s actually been some cut out to make room for a small sump. I’ll get some more pictures of it later the down fall is you can’t fit a sump any wider then 15-16” max. You are correct to leveling will be quite the challenge when it comes time.

 

[Rhyno8]

Few more pics of the stand and tank, thinking the one inch piping won’t be able to handle the flow I need, anyone enlarged holes before? Or I’m considering drilling the side panel for 1 1/2” plumbing. Also foam needs replacing under the tank is there a recommended size people use?

 

[Ulu]

To drill the holes bigger you need to make two plates from hardwood, and clamp them both sides of the glass.

Pre-drill the upper wood to the new size, and use it as a drill bushing to guide the new hole placement.

 

[Oughtsix]

To drill the holes bigger you need to make two plates from hardwood, and clamp them both sides of the glass.

Pre-drill the upper wood to the new size, and use it as a drill bushing to guide the new hole placement.

Exactly what I have done... it worked very well for me.

 

[Rhyno8]

Finally some progress today, changed my mind on the overflow set up turning it into a peninsula tank with coast to coast style overflow based off this plan.
The outside box has been ordered hopefully be done in a week or so. Drilled the holes tonight for the weir just need to attach some glass. Pick up a 240gallon tank Wednesday I’ll be turning into the sump. It might only be 3 holes but it’s the start of the project taking off.

My to do list is currently
assemble over flow system.
Cover existing overflow holes in base
Put baffles for k1 set up in sump tank
Build insulated cabinet for the sump and tank.
Work out returns I want as much hidden as possible.

 

[Rhyno8]

Today’s progress siliconed glass over existing holes in base, picked up sump siliconed in half the baffles and started on the insulated box think I’ll cut the box more snug to the sump. Leaving some space in the box length wise for media reactor and some wiggle room.